Can-capping machine.



No. 757,842. PATENTED APR. 19, 1904.

P ROGERS.

CAN CAPPING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED 0011.1, 1902.

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' PATENTEDAPR. 19, 1904.

I. ROGERS. CAN GAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DOT-1, 1902.

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Patented April 19, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK ROGERS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CAN-CAPPING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 757,842, dated April 19, 1904.

Application filed October 1, 1902. Serial No. 125,457. (No model.)

1'0 (b//// when) it In/by concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK ROGERS, a citi- Zen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, in the county and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Can- Capping Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in ean-capping machines, the same being especially capable of use in uniting the caps to metallic cans without the use of solder, and by bending the cap in a way to form an interlocking seam which hermetically closes or seals the can, so as to preserve the contents thereof against deterioration under atmospheric changes.

One object that I have in view is the provision of a simple and compact machine, in which a crimping-head and a work-holder are automatically and positively driven in a mannor to continuously carry on the operations of moving the cans and caps to the head, bending or crimping. these parts so as to unite them, and finally move the completed article away from the head.

A further object that I have in view is to provide an improved construction of the crimping-head, which is rotarily driven in a way to positively rotate the successively active mandrels that first bend the work to a certain condition and thereafter complete thebending operation in order to secure the interlocking of the cap and the can-head, such successive operations of the mandrels and their return to normal position being effected automatically by mechanism timed to work in unison with the motion of the work-holder.

A further object that I have in view is the provision of means to automatically impart a reciprocating motion to the work-holder in order that the latter may be moved at proper intervals away from the crimping-head for vention will appear in the course of the subjoined description, and the novelty will be defined by the annexed claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure l is a sectional elevation of a cancapping machine constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic detail view, on an enlarged scale, embracing the spindle-foot and mandrels in normal position and the movable bearings, levers, links, sleeve and latters connected and actuating link, lever, rod, and cam, an end elevation of said cam as connected being shown and also to the left of it a front outline thereof and its trundle-roller. Also immediately below the spindle-foot and mandrels and on a corresponding scale is shown a diagrammatic view of a can-lid and part of a can-top in position to be acted upon by the spindle-foot and mandrels when depressed; also, immediately below and on a still larger scale a similar view of part of the said can-lid and top. Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of the same details illus trated in Fig. 2, showing the relative location of the parts at a subsequent stage of the operation of my machine. Fig. 4 is a similar View at a still later stage of said operation. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section through the crimping-head in a plane above the gearing by which the mandrels are rotated.

The operating parts of my improved machine are or may be mounted on a framework of any suitable character, the same being indicated at A inFig. 1. From this framework rises a post or standard B, having a crosshead hand at one end this cross-head is provided with a bearing 6, that is disposed in vertical alinement with a bearing 0 at the top of the frame. These bearings accommodate a vertical counter-shaft O, which is provided around which is adapted to pass a belt, (not shown,) said belt adapted to be driven from a line-shaft or other source. of power. In the other end of the cross-head Z) is rigidly secured the upper part of a vertical spindle E, said spindle having a threaded upper extremity, which passes througha suitable opening in the cross-head and is adapted to receive the nuts 6 by which the spindle is rigidly secured in a vertical position alongside of the post B and above the top of the frame. This spindle depends for a suitable distance below the crosshead, and at its lower end the spindle is provided with a foot F, the latter having a flange f at the lower part thereof. The spindle passes at a point intermediate of its length through a horizontal arm a, which projects outwardly from the postB and assists in holding the spindle steadily in place above the frame.

G designates a rotary crimping-head, which is loosely mounted on the spindle'at a point between the foot F and the arm 0'.. This rotary head consists of a pulley g, journaled upon the spindle E, from the bottom of which pulley projects a concentric downwardly-disposed shell or casing g, rigidly secured thereto and having a rigid bottom or floor likewise journaled upon E, which floor bears upon foot F, whereby said head is rotatably supported upon spindle E, said pulley being provided with slots or openings suitably shaped for the accommodation of the levers, and said floor with slots or openings for the accommodation of the mandrels, hereinafter described. The head G is supported on the spindle in a position to bring the pulley g in the same horizontalplane as the pulley c on the vertical counter-shaft C, and thesepulleys c g are 0peratively connected by an endless belt C, whereby the head is posftively driven by direct gear connections with the counter-shaft.

The rotary head carries mandrels adapted to bend or crimp the cap into interlocking engagement with the can-head, and I preferably equip the head with two mandrels H 1, although the number of mandrels is not material. These mandrels are mounted in the head on opposite sides of the spindle E, which passes through the head and on which it is mounted and the lower ends of said mandrels project below the head. The mandrel H is equipped with a former it, having a reduced and beveled lowerend 7L, and this former is adapted -to preliminarily bend the edge of the can-cap from the condition shown in Fig. 2 to a condition illustrated by Fig. 3. The other mandrel I is provided at its lower protruding end with a former 91, having an enlarged and beveled lower extremity 11, and this mandrel and itsformer are adapted to operate on the work subsequently to the former h on the mandrel H, whereby the former 11 is adapted to complete the workbegun by the former 7L and to change the work from the condition shown in Fig. 3 to the complete condition represented by Fig. 4:.

The mandrels H I are journaled in movable bearings J J a pair of these bearings being provided to receive each mandrel. The upper bearing J of each pair is loosely fitted in a guideway 7', which is provided on the inside of the shell g, forming a part of the head, while the lower bearing J is similarly mount ed in the guideway j near the lower end of the shell g.

The mandrels are adapted to be positively driven on the rotation of the head G, and this end is secured by providing a gear-wheel on the spindle E and by attaching gear-pinions 7t" 70 to the mandrels H I, said gear-pinions of the mandrels having intermeshing engagement with the stationary gear-wheel /c, which is fixedon the vertical spindle E, as shown more clearly by Fig. 5. On the rotation of the head G the mandrels H I are carried therewith around the spindle E and the gears 70 k travel around the stationary gear 70 in a manner to impart rapid rotary motion to the mandrels H I on their aXes,whereby said mandrels are carried by the head in its rotation and they are driven simultaneously on their axes in a positive manner.

The rotary head G also carries means for alternately bringing the mandrels H I into operative position relatively to the work. In one embodiment of this mandrel-adjusting mechanism I employ the levers L L, which extend through the head G outside of the mandrels, each lever being fulcrumed at a point intermediate of its length, as by securing it to one of the slidable bearings J by pivot Z and the lower end of said lever being disposed so as to contact and press inwardly against the outwardly-disposed end of one of the slidable bearings J, to which it may be also connected, if desired, in any convenient manner, as by a pivotal connection similar to that securing it to bearing J in order to insure that such lever may positively move said bearing not only inwardly but also outwardly. The upper ends of the'levers terminate within the space of the pulley g, and to the lever L is pivoted one end of al inkm,while to the other lever L is pivoted one end of a link m, the latter having a certain amount of lost motion at its pivotal connection with said lever L. The inner ends of the links m m are pivoted toa sleeve M, which is slidable vertically on the spindle E and is arranged below the guidearm 6. The links m m are not connected to the sleeve at the same height, and I attach importance to having one pivoted to the sleeve at a point below the pivotal connection of'the other link thereto. In the example shown by the drawings the link on is pivoted to the sleeve at a point near the lower end thereof, while the other link m is pivoted to said sleeve near the upper end thereof, and this arrangement is important, because the two links serve to bring the mandrels H and I into the positions for service dissimultaneously. The sleeve is provided with a collar 0, which is attached loosely thereto, and to this collar is pivoted the lower end of a link 0, the upper end of which is pivoted to a lever O, the latter being hung on the post B. To the other end of this sleeve-adjusting lever O is pivoted a driving-rod arranged in a vertical position between the shaft C and the post B. The lower end of this driving-rod is provided with a trundle-roller 1), arranged to ride upon the periphery of the cam P, the latter being secured firmly to a cam-shaft P, the shape of said cam P being indicated in Figs. 2 and 4, inclusive. This cam is provided with a high part i a low partp and an intermediate part 2). The cam-shaft-P is journaled at one end in a suitable bearing-frame, while the shaft P is provided with a large bevel-gear Q,

which has engagement with a bevel gear pinion 1 on a vertical shaft Q, the latter being journaled in suitable bearings at the upper part of the machine-frame. This shaft Q is provided with apulley q, arranged in the same horizontal plane as the pulley c and a belt Q connects these pulleys q 0 so as to drive the shaft P from the shaftC through the train of gearing.

R. designates the work-holder, which is arranged immediately below the rotary head and the crimping devices carried thereby, said holder adapted to present the work in operative relation to the formers [L c' and to hold the work in a stationary position during the rotation of the head and the crimping devices.

This holder is rigidly attached to the upper end of a stem S, which is mounted for reciprocating movement in suitable guides r 1" on the framework, and this stem is held against turning by a setscrew 8, attached to the guide "1" and arranged to work in a slot or grooves at the lower part of the stem. The stem and the holder are normally pressed in a downward direction by springs T, arranged to act on a collar 6, which is secured to the. stem S at a point between the guides r 0*, said springs bearing against a plate 25, fitted to the under side of the guide 0-.

The stem and the holder are designed to be positively and automatically lifted at suitable intervals and to be held in a raised position during the period that the formers are rotating with the head in order to crimp the cap at the can-head, after which the stem and the holder are lowered. Any suitable means may be provided for intermittently and automatically actuating the stem and the holder; but the simplest means which I contemplate using resides in a cam U, which is secured to one end of the cam-shaft P and is arranged to pcripherally ride against the lower end of the stem S, or a trundle-roller, as S, may be employed on this stem to ride against the periphcry of the cam similar to the roller 1) of the driving-rod O The operation is as follows: Assuming that the parts are properly driven and that the cam U is in a position to permit the holder and the stem to be lowered by the pressure of the springs T, the operator places a can and its cap on the holder R, immediately after which the cam U becomes effective to raise the stem and the holder, and thereby move the canhead and the cap into position for engagement by the parts of the rotary head. On the elevation of the can and its cap the foot F enters the recess in the cap, said cap being indicated at 5 and the can-head at 6. cap are clamped by and between the holder R and the foot F on the spindle, and this foot presents its beveled end f quite close to the upstanding flange 7 of the cap 5, so as to afford a backing therefor. The work having been properly lifted and clamped, the trundleroller p passes from the low part 31 of the cam P to the intermediate part 10", and the rod 0 and the lever() are thereby moved for limited distances, so as to lower the sleeve M from the position shown by Fig. 2 to the position shown by Fig. 3. During this movement the link on is drawn to a horizontal position and the lever L is shifted so its lower end will press the bearing J toward the spindle E and the foot 'F, whereby the former 7L on the mandrel H will be brought into engagement with the flange 8 of the cap, and the rotation of the head G and the action of the former it will ben'd this flange 8 from the condition shown by Fig. 2 to the inclined condition shown by Fig. 3. The continued rotation of the cam P moves the trundle-roller upon the high part 9 and the sleeve M is now fully depressed, so as to make the link m take the horizontal position shown by Fig. 4, while the link m is moved to an inclined position. This shifting adjustment of the links on m withdraws the mandrel H and the former it away from the flanged cap, while the other lever, L, is moved to force the other bearing, J inwardly, and thereby bring the former 71 on the mandrel I into position for engagement with the bent flange, (shown by Fig. 3,) so that the former i on the rotation of the head and of the mandrel will bend this flange to its complete condition, as shown by Fig. 4. The roller 2 now enters the low part p of the cam P, and the mandrels and the sleeve are returned to their normal positions. In the meantime the cam The can and the U allows the springs T to force the collar t, a

and their formers are rotated constantly on their axes and that they rotate with the head Gr around the axis afforded by the spindle E; but the levers L L are so controlled by the sleeve M, the links, and the cam P that the mandrels and their formers are brought successively into position for engagement with the flanged can-cap, whereby the former 7L preliminarily bends the cap-flange to an inclined position, and the former z thereafter completes the bending of the cap-flange, so as to unite the cap to the can-head by an interlocking joint, which hermetically seals the can without the use of solder.

I am aware that can-capping machines have been previously constructed comprising a combination of a work-holder, a rotary head, crimping devices mounted in said head to rotate therewith, and to which crimping devices rotation on their axes has been imparted by pressure upon their working edges due to the contact of the latter with the can or cap, and I do not wish to be understood as broadly claiming any such device, my own invention being distinguishable therefrom by reason of my imparting to my crimping devices by appropriate means a positive rotation upon their axes, which rotation is independent of any pressure applied on their working edges, in consequence of which my crimping devices are prevented from jamming under abnormal conditions, a tighter and more perfect seam effected between can and lid, and risk of breakage and other injury diminished.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a can-capping machine, the combination of a rotary head, means for presenting work to said head, mandrels mounted in said head to rotate therewith and each capable of rotation on its axis, means for rotating said mandrels on their axes simultaneously with the rotation of the head, and automatic devices for successively moving said mandrels in active relation to the work.

2. In a can-capping machine, the combination of a rotary head, means for presenting work to said head, rotary mandrels mounted in said head to turn therewith and each provided with a former, means for rotating the mandrels on their axes, and means for alternately adjusting said mandrels to bring the formers thereof successively into engagement with the work.

3. In a can-capping machine, the combination of a fixed spindle, a clamping-foot attached thereto, a reciprocatory stem in line with said spindle, a work-holder mounted on said stem and disposed in opposing relation to the clamping-foot, a retractor operable to move the stem and-the'holder away from the foot, a cam arranged to positively move the stem and the holder toward the foot, and

head, formers carried by the mandrels, means for presenting work to said formers, and means for adjusting the mandrels and the formers successively in position for engagement with the work. b

5. In a can-capping machine, the combination of a rotary head, mandrels provided with formers and mounted in said head to rotate therewith, means for turning the mandrels on their axes, a suitable collar, and connections between said collar and the mandrels to successively adjust the formers into positions for action on the work.

6. In a can-capping machine, the combination of arotary head, mandrels carried by said head, and having means for rotating them on their axes, levers mounted on the head and operatively related to the mandrels for adjusting them, a slidable collar linked to said levers, and a cam arranged to impart slidable movement to said collar.

7. In a can-capping machine, the combination of a spindle, a rotary head mounted thereon, a clamping-foot carried by the spindle, mandrels mounted in the head to rotate therewith and geared to said spindle for rotation on their axes, aacollar slidable on the spindle, levers mounted in the head and operatively arranged to the mandrels, links connected to the levers and pivoted at different points to the collar, a cam, and connections between said cam and the collar to impart a progressive slidable movement to the latter.

8. In a can-cappingmachine, the combination with a work-holder, of a rotary head,

crimping devices mounted in said head to rotate therewith, and means for positively rotating said crimping devices on their axes, simultaneously with the rotation of said head, and independently of pressure applied to their working edges.

9. In a can-capping machine, the combination of a non-revoluble work-holder, means for imparting slidable movement to said workholder, a rotary head occupying an operating relation to said work-holder, crimping devices mounted in said head to rotate therewith, and means for positively rotating the crimping devices on their axes and independently of pressure applied to their working edges.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK ROGERS. Witnesses:

J NO. M. BITTER, II. T. BERNHARD. 

